LYNDONVILLE — The New York State School Boards Association sets Oct. 22-26 as School Board Recognition Week. This is a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by school board members.
Lyndonville is joining all public school districts across the state to celebrate School Board Recognition Week to honor local board members for their commitment to Lyndonville and its children.
“It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level,” said Jason Smith, the district superintendent. “They make the tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect.”
Smith said the key work of the school boards is to raise student achievement by:
• Creating a shared vision for the future of education
• Setting the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance
• Providing accountability for student achievement results
• Developing a budget that aligns district resources to improve achievement
• Supporting a healthy school district culture in which to work and to learn
“School board members give the Lyndonville citizens a voice in education decision making,” Smith said. “Even though we make a special effort to show our appreciation in October, their contribution is a year-round commitment.”
The members serving our district and their years of service are as follows:
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 October 2018 at 11:10 pm
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Brylie Hapeman, who netted both goals, winds up to take a shot as Kate Rachwal defends for East Aurora. The action took place during the Purple Eagles sectional semifinal victory over the top seeded Lady Blue Devils this evening at Williamsville East.
A goal in each half provided enough offense and the defense did the rest registering a shutout as No. 4 seed Albion upended top seeded East Aurora 2-0 in the Section VI Class B1 girls soccer semifinals this evening at Williamsville East High School.
The victory propels undefeated (17-0-1) Albion into the B1 championship game for the second year in a row. The Purple Eagles, who dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to Newfane in their first ever title appearance last fall, will face No. 7 Olean in the title game at 3 p.m. Saturday at Williamsville East. Olean downed No. 6 Alden 2-1 in the other semifinal.
Brylie Hapeman scored what proved to be the game winning goal for Albion at 15:56 of the first half off an assist from Abbie Pappalardo.
“That was a real big one. It changed the game,” said Albion Coach Maggie Orbaker. “It was a real game changer.”
It remained a tight 1-0 game until late in the second half when Hapeman netted a huge insurance goal, her 15th tally of the season, as Leah Pritchard earned the assist.
Albion goalie Sydney Mulka, who made 6 saves including a couple of key stops in the second half, and her defensive mates did the rest blanking East Aurora which brought a 14-2 record into the semis. The Purple Eagles defensive unit includes Paige Derisley, Pritchard, Aly Knaak, Alexis Bentley, Myra Reyes-Rosario. Alexis Creasey and Sarah Gregori.
“Our defense was just awesome,” said Orbaker. “They marked up very well. It was just an all around great team effort. And the nicest thing is they have fun.”
The Purple Eagles 17 wins ties a school single season record matching the victory totals earned during both the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
In a Class B2 semifinal, No. 2 Allegany-Limestone downed No. 3 Akron 4-0.
Albion’s Mariah Plain tries to send the ball up field as Ellie George defends for East Aurora.
Albion’s Abby Scanlan looks to keep the ball away from East Aurora’s Page Hazen.
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By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2018 at 2:48 pm
Provided photos
Photo by Tom Rivers: Evan Valentine joined the sophomore class during the homecoming parade on Sept. 28. The sophomores were celebrating the culture of France.
HOLLEY – This big group of Holley students, teachers and staff wore orange on Monday as a show of support for sophomore Evan Valentine, who was diagnosed with leukemia on Friday and was admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital.
Evan is a member of the boys varsity soccer team. When his friends heard of his illness, they put they call out on social media for students to wear orange. One of his teammates, Brad Kingdollar, also worked with his father Troy to make orange T-shirts that say “Evan Strong — In this family nobody fights alone.”
The T-shirts will be available for $10 (presale) on Thursday at the High School Library at 6 p.m. with about $6 per shirt going to the Valentine family.
There will soon be 500 orange “Evan Strong” wristbands available.
“Our kids are amazing,” said Samantha Zelent, a high school social worker. “When a crisis hits, this town rallies.”
Holley Rotary Club members Krista Wiley-Neale and Bob Miller hold a check for $1,000 that the Rotary Club approved on Monday to be given to the Valentine family.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 October 2018 at 12:59 pm
BARRE — The Barre Town Planning Board is working to revise the town’s wind energy ordinance, and may make changes to allow turbines taller than the current 500-foot limit. The setbacks from houses and property lines may also be increased.
Apex Clean Energy is proposing a project with 47 turbines. The company wants them to be 600 feet tall at maximum tip height, Ben Yazman, the Apex project manager, told the Planning Board on Monday.
That would be nearly 200 feet taller than most of the turbines in Wyoming County. The Barre turbines also would likely generate 4.2 megawatts per turbine, more than double the power from the models from a decade ago. (The 75 turbines in Sheldon, Wyoming County, that were constructed in 2009 produce 1.5 megawatts each.)
Barre adopted its wind ordinance in 2008 when a different developer was looking at the town for a project that didn’t end up materializing. Apex has proposed some revisions to the ordinance “to modernize the technological standards of the law, and also continue conversations with the town about the details of the wind farm we are working to develop in Barre,” Yazman said.
The town ordinance supports wind energy development, “but it was crafted over a decade ago based on a different set of technical standards that have changed since that time,” he said. “The ordinance also contains some technical ambiguity that is worth reexamination by the board.”
Barre residents concerned about the project also have submitted suggestions that call for far greater setbacks than the current town law.
The Planning Board, led by Chairman Tom Keeler, has set a Nov. 1 deadline for people to submit suggestions about possible changes in the ordinance. Kerri Richardson, president of Clear Skies Above Barre, said the group will be submitting many proposals for the town ordinance. Those suggestions are designed to protect all residents, including the leaseholders, from negative impacts of the turbines.
“Setbacks and noise are our biggest concerns,” she said. “Those are the two things we feel need to be changed to protect the citizens of Barre.”
Keeler said the Planning Board will work to have a revised ordinance to present to the Town Board by Jan. 1. That proposal, if accepted by the Town Board, will be subject to review by the Orleans County Planning Board and also a public hearing in Barre.
The setbacks are one of the biggest issues for the town to consider, Keeler said.
The current ordinance says the turbines need a property line setback of at least 1.5 times the tip height. That is for the property lines where the turbine is located.
The current ordinance also says the turbines need to be at least 1,000 feet from any existing residential or commercial building.
These 410-foot-high turbines were constructed this year in Arkwright, near Fredonia, in Chautauqua County. This photo was taken on Saturday. That project includes 36 turbines.
Apex has agreed to 1,500 foot setbacks from residential buildings. Yazman also suggests 1.5 times the tip height for setbacks from property lines for non-participating property owners, or landowners without an Apex lease.
A bigger setback would push many of the turbines in the middle of corn fields, he said. Having a smaller setback would allow farmers and landowners to have turbines in hedgerows, Yazman said.
Richardson of Clear Skies says the setbacks should be six times the turbine height. That would be at least 3,600 feet or more than a half mile for 600-foot-tall turbines.
John Metzler, a vocal critic of the project, said the setbacks should be even greater than what Richardson suggested.
“They need to be a mile away for people to be unaffected by these monoliths,” Metzler said. “We’re trying to protect the health and safety of residents, and the property values.”
Kirk Mathes, a member of the Planning Board, also is a leaseholder with Apex. He asked Yazman if the larger setbacks would, in effect, kill the project.
The larger setbacks, at six times the turbine height, would result in fewer turbines and may not make it economically feasible for the developer, Yazman said.
Mathes was chided by resident George McKenna for speaking as an advocate for the project. Mathes, because he stands to gain financially, shouldn’t participate in discussions about the project.
Keeler said the town attorney, Lance Mark, said two of the board members, Mathes and Jean Peglow, can’t vote on the project because it would be a conflict of interest but Mark said they can participate in discussions.
Mathes said he was simply asking a question that everyone was wondering, if the bigger setbacks would derail the project.
Metzler also told Mathes he shouldn’t be speaking at the meetings because of his lease with Apex.
“From the start you’ve done nothing but help Apex,” Metzler told him during the meeting.
• Apex would like to see the maximum impact for shadow flicker increased from 25 hours a year to 30. The 30 hours is the standard for the industry, Yazman said.
If the shadow flicker gets close to exceeding the limit, he said the turbines can be curtailed during those times to reduce or stop the flicker.
In that case, Richardson of Clear Skies said no shadow flicker should be the goal.
“This is our community,” she told the Planning Board. “The decision is in your hands. If the technology is there to better serve the residents of the Town of Barre, then why not?”
• Apex said the current decibel cap of 45, measured 1,000 feet from the turbine, doesn’t need to be changed. There is a provision where the noise limit can go to 51 decibels 10 percent of the time or 6 minutes an hour.
One resident, Nancy Blank, asked the town to lower the decibel limit to 40.
Yazman said Apex is doing two ambient noise studies and the noise issue will be reviewed by the State Siting Board, which includes the commissioner of the state Department of Health.
• The current ordinance says the turbines need to be decommissioned or removed after 180 days of no use. Yazman said the language should likely be modified because “unused” is ambiguous. It doesn’t necessarily mean the turbine has been shut down permanently.
If there is a malfunctioning turbine, it could take two months or more to have parts shipped and repairs made, he said.
Nate McMurray, Democrat and Working Families Party candidate for Congress in NY-27, today rolled out an aggressive environmental agenda that protects our air and water while helping grow the Western New York economy. In addition, McMurray announced the endorsement of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said, “Nate McMurray is a committed public servant who has made protecting our environment and preserving natural resources a top priority. As Town Supervisor of Grand Island, McMurray led the fight against polluters like Tonawanda Coke. He sponsored legislation to encourage solar energy and waterfront revitalization. He is committed to protecting the Great Lakes from pollution and environmental toxins, supporting green jobs, and improving public health. We are proud to stand with Nate McMurray in his election for Congress.”
The New York League of Conservation Voters is the second major environmental group to back McMurray. In August, he was endorsed by The Sierra Club.
“Western New York is blessed with rich environmental beauty and an abundance of natural resources,” McMurray said. “We know this provides great potential for our economy. And we also know, from experience, how tragic the devastation of reckless pollution can be. That’s why I’m so committed to protecting our natural treasures across this region. I am proud to have earned the support of the New York League of Conservation Voters. I believe that protecting what is truly unique about this part of the nation is not only the right thing to do but will also grow our economy.”
During his time as Grand Island Town Supervisor, McMurray successfully stood with local residents against corporate polluters like Tonawanda Coke. He also passed legislation that brought solar energy to Grand Island and designated eight miles of waterfront land for public use, building a family-friendly walkway and trail.
McMurray’s Green Growth for Western New York Plan includes:
• Protecting the Great Lakes from pollution and overdevelopment
• Fighting climate change to protect our homes and our agricultural economy
• Supporting job-producing green technology, including green energy
• Addressing environmental health hazards such as lead in our drinking water and housing stock
• Preserving our forests and waterways for recreation, so hunters and anglers can enjoy healthy fish and game
Peggy Barringer of Albion won the grand prize in the 2017 contest for this image of a fisherman and sailboat during a sunset at Point Breeze. She also won in 2016 with an image of blossoms at Mount Albion Cemetery.
Once again, Orleans County Tourism wants your best “Tourism Worthy” photos for the 2019 Calendar and Travel Guide.
The 3rd annual Orleans County Tourism Photo Contest is an opportunity to showcase the unique character, events and natural beauty of our region. And, it offers a chance to win a pair of concert tickets. Contest rules are as follows:
• Eligibility: the contest is open to any amateur or professional photographer with the exception of employees of the Orleans County Tourism Department. Images with the photographer’s signature or watermark across the image are not eligible.
• Locale & Subject: all photographs must be taken within Orleans County with a “tourism- draw” subject matter such as recreation, heritage, nature, annual event or tourist attractions.
• Deadline: All entries must be submitted by midnight, Nov. 2, via email or postmarked no later than Nov. 1. Winners will be notified by Nov. 14.
Orleans County Tourism Photo Contest 14016 Route 31 West, Albion, NY 14411
Alternatively, you can fax entry & release forms to 585-589-3283. Contact Lynne Menz at 585-589-3103 with questions.
A panel of judges will rate the photos on the basis of “Tourism Attraction” relevance, subject matter, creativity and quality as well as those which capture the unique quality and beauty of our region. Judges are looking for the “wow factor” or “magazine cover worthy” image.
Click here to see the contest rules and application.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 10:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Pennywise the clown created lots of buzz in the Albion community when he appeared on Main Street on oct. 8, two days after the Fall Festival in downtown Albion.
Matt Hand made the scarecrow with his wife Crystal and their daughters. Matt is a member of Energize Albion, which has sponsored a scarecrow contest the past three years. He tries to make an elaborate scarecrow each year. In 2016, it was a witch that was hanging sideways from a downtown light pole. Last year it was Jack the Pumpkin King.
“Bennywise” appeared on Main Street with a new mask on Sunday after Pennywise was vandalized.
“We wanted to go big to inspire people to do their best scarecrow,” Hand said.
This time, he wanted to top his previous efforts. He decided to do Pennywise, a scary clown from the horror movie, It. Hand decided to mount the scarecrow in an 80-pound bucket of concrete that he could move around Main Street, so Pennywise was in a different spot each day.
“I thought it would add to the creepy factor to move it around,” Hand said.
He even gave the clown a red balloon, just like Pennywise in the movie.
Pennywise has proven popular in Albion. Many people have posted on social media they appreciated the creativity with the scarecrow.
However, Pennywise hasn’t been universally adored. Vandals have struck several times. They have popped balloons, broken Pennywise’s wooden leg, ripped off his mask and smashed his head.
It’s all discouraging to Hand, who estimates he spent $150 making the scarecrow.
He was going to take Pennywise off the street, a victim of the vandals.
However, he had another clown mask and a determined spirit. He gave the scarecrow a new look, and Hand’s wife gave it a new name: Bennywise. He also now has a blue balloon. The color could change leading up to the finale, Beggars’ Night this Friday evening in the downtown.
He has been inundated with comments from the community, thanking him for keeping the scarecrow up.
“I didn’t think that many people cared,” Hand said today. “But there has been an outcry of anger over the vandalism.”
He also hopes the attention will get people planning for next year – and to not let the vandalism discourage them from trying projects in Albion.
After Halloween last year, Hand and his wife went to Walmart and bought many of the pirate outfits, wigs, princess masks and feather boas so they could be used for this year’s scarecrows. The Hands donated the supplies which were used to make scarecrows on Oct. 6.
He is impressed by many of the scarecrows on Main Street.
“I’m definitely thinking about next year and hoping more people will step it up,” he said.
Matt Hand and his business, United Structural LLC, won first place in 2016 for this scarecrow of a witch hanging sideways from a light pole on Main Street.
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MEDINA – Addison Carr, 9, of Medina has been selected to perform in Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” next month at the Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport.
Addison is a fourth grader at Clifford H. Wise Middle School. She has been dancing since she was 3 at the Dancenter in Medina. She was chosen to perform in “The Nutcracker” after auditioning this past spring.
Bright-eyed and full of smiles, Addison was so excited to be selected. Rehearsals started on Sept. 30 with the performance on Nov. 17. She will be playing the part of a snowflake.
“Addison has beautiful stage presence for such a young dancer,” says Stephanie Szklany, owner of the Dancenter. “Her natural ability to perform no doubt caught the eye of the judges.”
Addison is currently taking Pre-Pointe and Jazz classes from Miss Stephanie at the Dancenter.
Addison is the daughter of Jeremy and Kristy Carr.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker includes world-class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls. The “Dove of Peace Tour” will be in more than 100 cities across North America.
Tickets for the Lockport performance are available at the Palace Theatre Box Office or online at lockportpalacetheatre.org.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 2:12 pm
MEDINA – The committee working on a waterfront plan for Medina wants to hear from residents and visitors how Medina could turn its waterfront resources into a bigger asset.
The village is fortunate to have the Erie Canal, Glenwood Lake and Oak Orchard River. Medina also has sizable open spaces near the canal, Glenwood Lake and the Oak Orchard.
The Village of Medina has initiated a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to better utilize the waterfront for economic development, recreation and tourism.
The committee had a public meeting last week to update the community on the program and to get their ideas for waterfront projects.
The group is also doing an online survey for local residents and will have one available for visitors to fill out. (Click here to see the survey for residents).
The surveys also will be printed and available in the downtown.
Photo by Ginny Kropf: The Lois McClure, a replica of a canal boat from the 1800s, pulls up to the Canal Basin in Medina. A planning committee is seeking ideas from the public on how to make the basin more appealing.
The survey asks local residents how long have they lived in Medina, and why do they live in Medina (proximity to family, work, low cost of housing, accessibility to Buffalo or Rochester, other reasons).
Other questions include: How often do you utilize village parks? Which village parks — Butts Park, Gulf Street Park, Lions Park, State Street Park, Canal Port Park or Rotary Park — do you visit most often?
How often do you utilize the Erie Canal Heritage Trail? How often do you access the Erie Canal, Glenwood Lake, and/or Oak Orchard River?
How do you interact with the Glenwood Lake, Oak Orchard River and Erie Canal? — scenic viewing, boating, kayaking or canoeing, fishing, other (please be specific)
Would you like to see additional recreational amenities around the Erie Canal or in village-owned parks? If yes, what would you like to see?
What kind of amenities would you like to see in Medina?
If you could implement one improvement project around the waterfront (that would have the greatest impact) what would it be?
The village received a state grant to cover most of the cost of the project to develop the waterfront program. That plan is expected to be finished in mid-2019, in time for Medina to apply for funding for state grants.
Samantha Herberger, a planner with Bergmann Associates in Rochester, leads a discussion about Medina’s waterfront during a meeting last Wednesday at the Medina Central School district office.
Members of the committee and the public held a public meeting last week to discuss the waterfront, including potential projects and obstacles to bringing them to reality.
Improved public access to the Medina Waterfalls was cited by many as a top priority. Those waterfalls are currently dangerous for the public to access. The waterfalls are visible from the towpath by the canal, but a better vantage point could make the falls a bigger attraction for Medina.
“The Medina Waterfalls isn’t just underutilized, it’s unknown,” said Jim Hancock, the tourism chairman for Medina.
The group at last week’s meeting also said the waterfront plan should include more amenities by the Canal Basin, including more lighting to make the area feel safer in the evening and at night.
Allison Harrington, an urban planner with Sustainable Planning Design, said Medina has a thriving historic commercial district right next to the Erie Canal.
Medina has lots of open land near its waterfront by the canal, the Oak Orchard River and Glenwood Lake, said Allison Harrington, an urban planner with Sustainable Planning Design. She did an inventory of the assets and opportunities by the village’s waterfront property.
She sees the presence of open and 35 acres of parks as assets that could be enhanced to enhance the quality of life for village residents and also draw more visitors and tourists.
“When you look at a community with a declining population, what are some of the things we can do to keep them here?” Harrington asked about 40 people at last week’s meeting.
She said the Medina downtown and some of the other historic sites in the community give Medina “tremendous architectural resources.”
The downtown is clearly cared for by the building owners, and the interpretive panels and historical markers show there is pride in the community for the downtown and Medina’s history, she said.
“You have this real intact fabric of a downtown that is representative of a canal community,” she said.
Harrington also cited a few underutilized spots on Main Street, including the former Starlite Cleaners. Starlite was leveled and that open lot could be an asset to help the business district.
Residents and committee members at the meeting last week said a better developed trail system, linking the waterfront assets should be developed.
Specifically, residents and committee members at the meeting noted projects that would boost Medina could include a brewery in the Canal Basin, a community center in Medina, and more backside facades such as the one at Fitzgibbons Public House that faces the canal.
The planning group said it wants to add the “wow factor” to Medina’s waterfront, which they say is currently missing.
The consultants for the project will reach out to Medina leaders and other stakeholders in interviews to get their ideas about waterfront development and revitalization.
The planning committee wants to identify specific projects in December. It is pushing to have the planning initiative complete by mid-2019 in time to pursue state funding for some of the projects.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 12:46 pm
Don Marchner is shown in this undated photo during the early days of his service as a Medina firefighter. He also has been an active firefighter for the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company.
MEDINA – The Medina Fire Department honored a long-time member on Saturday, and also presented awards for firefighters who made life-saving actions in the past year.
Donald Marchner was honored for 50 years of service to the Fire Department. He started as a volunteer callman, and was a career firefighter before becoming a Medina police officer. He has remained an active volunteer for the fire department, responding to about 200 calls a year. He also is active with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, and responds to about 200 calls for Ridgeway.
Mayor Michael Sidari declared Saturday to be “Donald Marchner Day” in Medina “for recognition of his loyalty and service to the populace of our great village,” according to the proclamation from the mayor.
Marchner was recognized during the Brian Kwiatkowski Ball, put on by the Medina Firefighters & Police Benevolent Associations. About 130 people attended the event at the Sacred Heart Club.
Marchner is a regular every morning at the Medina firehall, joining firefighters for coffee and often on fire and ambulance calls.
Marchner received this ceremonial ax in appreciation for a half century of service.
The Medina Fire Department also presented the following awards on Saturday:
• “Code Save” Award to firefighters Bradley Mahnke, Joseph Simmons, Rich Jenkinson and Mike Young. This crew responded to a cardiac arrest and was able to successfully resuscitate the patient and transport the person to Buffalo General Hospital for further treatment. That patient was discharged home from the hospital with no deficits.
• Meritorious Service Award to firefighters Timothy Miller and Adam Vanderheite for their lifesaving efforts at an off-duty get together. A small child began choking on a soft drink bottle cap and both men attended to the child and successfully removed the airway obstruction by use of the Heimlich maneuver.
• Firefighter Jacob Crooks received the Brian T. Kwiatkowski Award for all the work he does for the Benevolent Association, the Union and the Fire Department as a whole. The Brian T. Kwiatkowski Award isn’t given out every year. It goes to someone “who goes above and beyond for the department to make it better,” said Stephen Miller, the awards chairman.
• Firefighters Stephen Miller and Dan Scanlon received a “Stork” pin for delivering a baby this past year.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2018 at 11:23 am
Photos courtesy of Evette Phillips
BUFFALO – Caliyah Boston, 7, of Medina is shown with some of the donated food she brought to Buffalo on Sunday to give to We R Buffalo Strong, an organization led by Medina native Evette Phillips.
For the past five years Phillips has been taking food to homeless people in Buffalo, often bringing grills and cooking meals with them.
Caliyah’s family heard about the organization through social media and wanted to collect food to be be donated to We R Buffalo Strong. Caliyah’s second grade classmates and others at Oak Orchard Elementary School helped with the effort, which resulted in three carloads of food and clothing.
“Caliyah’s classroom also made cards for the homeless which brought some to tears, including me,” Phillips said.
Caliyah Boston is pictured with Evette Phillips, leader of We R Buffalo Strong on Sunday. Caliyah helped to give away the food to homeless people in Buffalo.
Phillips last year was named the “Humble Humanitarian of the Year” by Compass House of WNY, which runs a shelter for homeless children ages 12 to 17.
She typically meets the homeless on the street behind the Buffalo public library.
“I’m just a single mom of four who wants to make a difference in my town,” Phillips said during a phone interview today.
She was impressed by Caliyah’s good heart and motivation to help the homeless. Phillips didn’t realize the Medina connection until Caliyah showed up Sunday wearing a Medina Mustang sweatshirt.
Caliyah Boston shows her Mustang pride while unpacking a trunk full of food and clothing on Sunday
“For someone to be all the way from Medina to come to Buffalo that really resonated with me,” Phillips said. “I’m from Medina. It’s so small and everybody knows everyone.”
Phillips said she doesn’t just hand out food. Sometimes there are tail-gate parties, cookouts and TV’s hooked up to watch the Bills games together.
“It started off as just trying to make a difference in the community and it really took off,” she said. “It’s just giving the people a sense of normalcy and love without judgement.”
Caliyah made donation boxes for food and clothing, which she took to Buffalo on Sunday.
By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 October 2018 at 10:19 am
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Olivia Radford and her Lady Hawks teammates will compete in the Section V Class C2 semifinals on Tuesday against top seeded Marion. Albion and Kendall have also advanced to the sectional semifinals.
Top seeded foes will provide the opposition for both Albion and Holley in the semifinals round of the girls soccer sectionals on Tuesday.
Undefeated Niagara-Orleans League champion No. 4 seed Albion (16-0-1) will face No. 1 East Aurora (14-2-1) in the Section VI Class B1 semifinals at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville East.
No. 4 seed Holley (10-5-3) will take on undefeated (17-0) No. 1 Marion in a Section V Class C2 semi at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Webster Thomas.
Kendall (12-5), which is ironically also a No. 4 seed, will face No. 9 Arkport-Canaseraga (7-9) in a Section V Class D1 semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Perry.
The N-O League will also be represented in the Section VI Class B2 semis as No. 3 Akron faces No. 2 Allegany-Limestone at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville East.
Albion downed Alden 2-1 in last year’s B1 semifinal to advance to the sectional finals for the first time in program history where the Purple Eagles dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to N-O foe Newfane.
The Purple Eagles have been sparked offensively by the duo of Abby Scanlan with 17 goals and 6 assists and Brylie Hapeman with 13 goals and 17 assists. In all a total of 10 players have contributed goals to the Albion attack including Lexi Wolck (7), Mariah Plain (4), Kendall Derisley (4), Claire Squicciarini (3), Sarah Gregori (3), Alexis Bentley (2), Nicole Creasey (1) and Abbie Pappalardo (1).
Sydney Mulka, who has made 139 saves in goal and has a goals against average of 0.875, anchors the Albion defense which also features defenders Paige Derisley, Leah Pritchard, Aly Knaak, Mayra Reyes-Roserio, Bentley and Gregori.
East Aurora is led offensively by the duo of Katherine Jancerski with 20 goals and 10 assists and Katie Kivari with 20 goals and 11 assists.
The sectional meeting will be the second between Albion and East Aurora. The Purple Eagles dropped a narrow 2-1 to the Lady Blue Devils in the 2016 quarterfinal.
Holley, which has advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, has been led offensively by Hailee Passarell with 14 goals and 5 assists and Olivia Radford with 9 goals and 4 assists.
Marion has registered 14 shutouts in 17 games and has allowed a total of only 5 goals.
Kendall, which has advanced to the semis for the fifth straight year, is sparked on offense by Halee Mitchell with 21 goals, Grace Levett with 10 and Alezya Brown with 9.
Arkport-Canaseraga gained a spot in the semis by upsetting top seeded Honeoye 3-0.
Akron has been led offensively by the trio of Jenna Robnett (17 goals, 12 assists), Natalie Karmazyn (16 goals, 2 assists) and Kara Sequin (15 goals, 8 assists).
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 22 October 2018 at 8:20 am
MEDINA – It’s not too early to start thinking about a float in this year’s Parade of Lights, scheduled Nov. 24 in downtown Medina .
This will mark the 10th anniversary of the spectacular parade, and the planning committee has been busy for weeks coming up with special features to honor the event.
Provided photo: The committee planning this year’s Parade of Lights is encouraging everyone to start thinking about entering a float in this year’s parade Nov. 24. Special prizes and features will celebrate the parade’s 10th anniversary. Seated from left are chairman Jim Hancock, Trudi Schwert and Reinhard Rogowski. Standing are Dave and Gail Miller, Kathie Valley and Dave Schwert. Committee member Betty Rogowski took the picture.
The parade was an idea of Jim Hancock, who chairs the event. His former pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church , the Rev. Emily Frank, told him about the small town in Michigan where she came from that had been doing a parade of lights for more than a decade.
“I thought if that small town can do it, why can’t Medina,” Hancock said.
He put together a committee and the rest is history, he said.
The parade has continued to grow in support and participation. Each year the committee solicits donations from corporations, individuals and other organizations, who have continued to be very generous, Hancock said.
“I am amazed at how the number and beauty of the floats has grown,” he said. “People from all over our state have seen pictures online and marvel at the floats.”
Hancock is assisted by Dave and Trudi Schwert, Dave and Gail Miller, Reinhard and Betty Rogowski, Kathie Valley, and Duane and Pat Payne. Mark Irwin has also been involved.
This year’s parade will feature four bands – the Medina Mustang Marching Band, Downbeat Percussion (who play during halftime at Buffalo Bills’ games), Mark Time Marchers and Prime Time Brass.
Trudi Schwert said the Downbeat Percussion band is from Syracuse and approached Medina to be in the parade.
In honor of the 10th anniversary, Dave Schwert said each parade entrant is asked to incorporate the number “10” in their float somehow.
Another change is this year the judges will come to the assembly area at the Pickle Factory to talk to entrants and pre-judge the floats.
Matt CM Contracting won the Star Award for a candy cane themed float in 2017.
The grand prize this year for the best overall float will be $1,000. Other prizes will also be awarded to floats in various categories, which include Commercial/Business, Not-for-Profit, Religious, Service Club/Organization, Fire Company, Little Elf Award, Star Award, Community Spirit Award, Santa’s Pick and Other.
“One thing, we know it takes time and effort to construct a float, so we are asking early to give everyone time to develop a float and work on it while the weather is still good,” Dave Schwert said.
The Parade of Lights caps off Medina ’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration and the arrival of Santa Claus that day. The celebration features children’s activities, food, entertainment, lighting of the Christmas tree in Rotary Park, and fireworks at 5:45, prior to start of the parade at 6 p.m.
The Boy Scouts sell hot beverages, hotdogs and chili at the staging area, and each entrant will receive a $5 coupon toward food.
The parade will leave the Pickle Factory and head down Park Avenue to Main Street, then turn north on Main Street to Pearl Street .
All information, including entry blanks, are available online at www.ChristmasinMedina.com or by calling Hancock at 798-2118.
ORCHARD PARK – The Medina Mustang Marching Band traveled to Orchard Park on Saturday to compete for the last time before the state championships.
Twelve bands competed at Orchard Park, with inclement weather forcing the show indoors. Normally a band performs in competition on an entire football field complete with their entire band, guard and props. In this case the band and guard are crowded into a gym without props and do a “stand still.” They play all the music but are not able to convey their show with all of its formations. Subsequently there are no numeral scores given out but instead are given ratings.
In SS1 Medina was given a rating of “Outstanding.” The bands in SS3, Jordan Elbridge, Pioneer, Falconer-Frewsburg and LeRoy were rated at “Excellent.”
In LS3 Hilton was “Excellent” with Greece rated at “Outstanding.” In LS2 Jamestown, Orchard Park, Webster and West Seneca were “Outstanding.” Lancaster was the only National Band and was rated “Superior.”
The NYSFBC are Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. There will be a total of 53 bands performing in 6 divisions starting at 8 a.m. Medina performs in SS1 at 6:54 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 October 2018 at 7:46 pm
Photo courtesy of Georgia Thomas
MEDINA – Georgia Thomas of Medina has a row of pumpkins on her porch in medina, including a teal pumpkin to signify she has treats available for kids with allergies.
The Teal Pumpkin Project started in 2012 as a nationwide effort to encourage people to also give out non-food treats on Halloween, which is next Wednesday, Oct. 31.
Food Allergy Research & Education, a non-profit advocacy group, took up the cause and first promoted the non-food treats in 2014.
The group says there are many treat options for people to give to children with food allergies:
• Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces; pencils, pens, crayons or markers; bubbles;
• Halloween erasers or pencil toppers; Mini Slinkies; whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers;
• Bouncy balls; finger puppets or novelty toys; coins; spider rings; vampire fangs; mini notepads; playing cards; bookmarks; stickers and stencils.
Food Allergy Research & Education would like to have a home on every block with a teal pumpkin and offer non-food treats.
